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PSALM

CHAPTER 46

1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Ko'-rah, A Song upon Al'-a-moth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

God Himself is the literal foundation of all that exists. Were it not for God, there would be NOTHING!

God is a "refuge." We can run to God when we are toubled, afraid, and/or discouraged. He is a haven of rest when we are tired.

God is our "strength." Without Him, how could we endure the problems of life (see verses 2-3)? When we come to God, we can draw on His strength. That's because God is "a very present help" and will always be moving within us.

4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

There is a city where the river of life runs through it making the city beautiful and supplying strength to all who are there. It is the "city of God." One day, all those who are saved shall go there and dwell forever.

Yet, even today there is a city similar to that. It is like Jerusalem was to the Israelites of the Old Testament. Today, it is the CHURCH!

In the church runs the "river" which makes it beautiful and supplies strength to all who come there. That river is God Himself, for He "is in the midst of her."

He is the "God of Jacob," but He is also the God of the cross and the empty tomb! He is "with us!"

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

One day, and I think perhaps soon, our Lord Himself shall take up residence in the "holy city." He shall rule and reign over the earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:2). He will make some places in the earth "desolation." And He will cause a halt to all war.

It will be GOD HIMSELF that will come to do this (verse 10).

But even today, He is WITH US (verse 11).

CHAPTER 47

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Ko'-rah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. 2 For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. 3 He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. 4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

When King Jesus comes to rule and reign over the earth for 1,000 years, all His believers shall truly SHOUT with joy! He shall cause His people to rule and reign WITH Him in the earth (verse 3). And He will designate the place of our residence (verse 4). ((See also Revelation 20:4))

5 God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. 8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

When King Jesus ascends to take the throne of the earth for the 1,000 year reign, there will be a great SHOUT and a LOUD trumpet. It will be similar to when David lead the procession into Jerusalem to install the ark at the tabernacle of God. It will be similar to when He comes before the seven years of "tribulation;" for then He will descend from heaven with a great SHOUT and the sound of a LOUD trumpet! (See 1Thessalonians 4:16-17)

9 The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

ALL the leaders of every nation in the earth will be gathered under the leadership of King Jesus for the 1,000 year reign. Their "shields" (or power) shall belong to Him! And He will be "greatly exalted" because all the earth will know that He is God.

CHAPTER 48

1 A Song and Psalm for the sons of Ko'-rah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. 2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. 3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

Jerusalem, "mount Zion," is a beautiful place for an earthly reign. It is situated atop a great hill with great valleys on the East and West, and deep ravines on the South. Therefore, it is not only beautiful in position, but also militarily a good location. However, Jesus will need no defense! He IS the defense!

In Old Testament times, the nations of the earth knew that God was "in her palaces for a refuge." And when Jesus sets up the millenial reign, all the world will know that God is in the Holy City. 4 For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. 5 They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. 6 Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. 7 Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. 8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.

In Old Testament times, kings shuddered to think of trying to overtake Jerusalem. Only after the sins of the people was Nebuchadnezzar able to overcome the city because the presence of God for protection had been removed (See Ezekiel 10:18-19).

This LORD, Who "breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind," shall be in the Holy City. And His very presence shall cause all evil to fade away.

9 We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. 10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness. 11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments. 12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. 13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. 14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

When we see that God shall preserve Jerusalem for His Holy City from which to reign for 1,000 years, we think of the "lovingkindness" of God. How wonderful and mighty is our God of kindness! He preserves by grace! He preserves for His GLORY!

Oh! How we should REJOICE and PRAISE GOD! We should consider and remember that this same God Who preserved Jerusalem in the past shall rule and reign for 1,000 years on this earth!

YES! The LORD GOD JEHOVAH, the MIGHTY YHWH, is the LORD, JESUS CHRIST! (See Isaiah 43:11)

And this LORD is our "guide" for eternity (See John 8:12, John 14:6).

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